Corset.



J. H. ODENBRBTT.

CORSET.

APPLIUATION FILED. 1111.17, 1910.

coLUMBlA PLANDGRAPH t0.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

Patented July 4, 1911.

JOHN H. ODENBRETT, OF GHICAG, ILLINOIS.

CORSET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17', 1910.

Patented July d, 191 1. Serial No. 538,467.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jol-IN I-I. ODnNBnnrT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to corsets, and it has for its object to provide certain improvements by which the front corset steels may be held rigidly together so they will not fold relatively to each other when hooked together. I accomplish this object as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described.

That which I believe to be new is set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, showing the front steels of the corset in elevation, a part of the fabric being broken away; Fig. 3 is a crossssect-ion on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the preferred form of interlocking device for preventing the steels from folding relatively to each other; Fig. 6 is an edge view of one of the steels, showing the socket-member in place; Fig. 7 is a perspective view, showing a modification; and Fig. 8 is also a perspective view, showing another modication.

Referring to the drawingsf-Q-l() indicate the front steels of the corset, which are of Jthe usual type and are adapted to be secured together by the usual fasteners composed of eyes 11 and pins 12 secured to the two steels 9-10, respectively. It is apparent that where the steels'are secured together by the usual fastening devices thev steels are not held rigidly against rocking movement relatively to each other, and this not only makes the corset uncomfortable but is apt to cause it to become unhooked. In order to hold the steels rigidly together when they are hooked, in addition to the useful fasteners, or in lieu of some of them, I employ connections comprising a tongue member 13 which is adapted to be secured to one of the steels and a socket-member 14 which is adapted to be secured to the other steel in position to receive the tongue 13 when the steels are hooked together. In practice these connections are placed between the upper and lower pairs of the usual fasteners, and if desired a third connection may be provided at the longitudinal centers of the steels. The member 13 is preferably composed of a fiat piece of steel provided with holes 15 at its inner ends for riveting it to the steel and with a notch 16 in its outer end for a purpose to be hereinafter described. rIhe socket-member 14 is composed of a strip of steel, the intermediate portion of which is pressed up so that lugs 17 are provided at its ends for securing the member to the steel, the intermediate portion being thus held up away from the steel to provide a recess or socket 18 under it to receive the tongue-member 13, as best shown in Fig. 6. rlhe outer face of the socket-member is provided with three upwardly-projecting lugs 19-20-21, as best shown in Fig. 5, the lug 20 being placed centrally of the intermediate portion of said member so that it alines with the notch 1G of the tongue-member when the latter is being t-ted into or withdrawn from the socket 18. The purpose of providing the lugs 19-20-21 is to hold the edge of the fabric 22 properly in position and prevent it from extending down over the recess 18 and thereby interfering with the insertion of the tongue-member 13 therein. lThis is best shown in Fig. 3, from which it will be seen that the socket-member 14 is fitted in a pocket in the edge of the fabric which extends above and below the steel and the socket-member, the steel being inclosed in the usual way. The upper fold of the fabric which extends over the socketmemberabuts against the lugs 19-20-21, as shown in said figure, and consequently cannot fold down over the recess 18 and in terefer with the insertion of the tongue 13. The purpose of providing the notch 16 is to permit of the disengagement of the members 13-14 wit-hout separating the steels as far as would otherwise be necessary in order to permit the tongue to clear the intermediate lug 20, as, obviously, when the steels are separated far enough for the outer end of the tongue to clear the outer edge of the socket-member the tongue may be lifted out of operative position, thelug 20 passing through the notch 16. By this construction, when the steels are connected together in the manner shown in Fig. 2 the usual fasteners serve to prevent their separation, while the rigid connections prevent their turning or rocking relatively to each other, so that the steels in effect form a rigid support for the front of the corset.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modification, in which instead of the socket-member 14 which provides a closed recess for the tongue 13, I employ a keeper comprising a plate 22 having a tongue 23 which projects at one end thereof and is deflected so as to lie at a short distance from the face of the corset steel, thereby providing a socket to receive a tongue 24 carried by the other steel. It will be apparent that the tongues 23 and 2e when fitted together also serve to hold the steels rigidly together so as to prevent rocking relatively to each other. With this construction the tongue 24 may project sligthly beyond the end of the tongue 23 when being moved into or out of engagement therewith. The tongue 23 is not covered by the fabric but projects over it so as to leave the end of the tongue exposed.

In Fig. 8 I have shown another modification, showing thc socket-member which is employed where it is not desired to cover the socket-member with the fabric. The socket-member 25 is similar to the socketmember 14 except that it is not provided with the lugs 19--20-21, which are not necessary where the fabric does not over-lie the socket-member. lVhere the socketmember 25 is used, I employ a tongue 2G, which is not provided with a notch 16, as where the lug 20 is not used there is no object in providing the notch 16.

It will be apparent that when the steels are secured in the manner described they cannot bend in or out, or move up or down, relatively to each other, or bend away from each other, thereby not only making the corset more comfort-able but also avoiding squeaking. My improved connections also serve to hold the ordinary fasteners in engagement with each other, so that they do not accidentally become unfastened. lVith the present construction it frequently happens that either the top or bottom clasp becomes unfastened.

So far as I am aware, no one has hereprevent rocking or folding thereof relatively to each other, and my invention, therefore, is generic in character, and the claims hereinafter made are to be Vconstrued accordingly.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. Front steels for corsets provided with fasteners for securing them together, and separate means for holding said steels rigid with reference to each other comprising tongue and socket members carried by the steels respectively and adapted to fit rigidly together when the steels are fastened together.

2. Front steels for corsets provided with fasteners for securing them together, and means for holding said steels rigid with reference to each other comprising a plurality ofV tongue-members secured to one of the steels and proJectmg beyond the edge thereof and socket-members connected to the other steel and providing sockets to receive said tongue/hm.

members, said socket-members having a stop adapted to engage the edge of the fabric of the corset.

3. A connecting-device for corset steels, comprising a tongue-member adapted to be secured to one of the steels, and a socketinember adapted to be secured to the other steel and forming therewith a socket to receive the tongue-member, said socket-member having an interinediately-disposed projecting lug, and a notch in the tongue-member adapted to register with said lug.

et. A connecting-device for corset steels, comprising a tongue-member adapted to be secured to one of the steels, and a socketmember adapted to be secured to the other steel and forming therewith a socket to receive the tongue-member, said socket-meinber having a plurality of upwardly-projecting lugs at its outer edge for holding the fabric ofthe corset in position.

JOI-IN II. ODENBRETT. l/Vitnesses:

JOHN L. JACKSON, MINNIE A. HUNTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

